PawPaw Rod

MEET PAWPAW ROD: PawPaw Rod, the Hawaii-born, Oklahoma-raised rapper and singer, discovered his passion for music and writing during his upbringing as a self-proclaimed military brat. Moving frequently, he found solace in the familiar sounds of his favorite records. When speaking on his artistry, he explains that during his formative years in Norman, OK, “There was an absence of a dominant or regional sound, especially for black artists. This afforded me the freedom to pull from everything, crucially shaping my music today, a credit I attribute to my childhood experiences of moving around various cultures and tribes.” PawPaw Rod grew up on a steady diet of Maxwell, Prince, The Gap Band, and Bill Withers. He first caught the performance bug singing in church, sharing that“ever since that first time singing on stage, I knew I would forever be on a journey of chasing that feeling.” PawPaw Rod released his explosive debut single, “HIT EM WHERE IT HURTS,” in 2020, seamlessly merging rap, 60s soul, and house via Godmode. Following this success, his debut EP, A PawPaw Rod EP, amassed over 100 million streams on Spotify upon its release in late 2021. Since, he has released two additional EPs, continuing the momentum with his highly anticipated follow-up project, Another PawPaw Rod EP (2022), as well as his latest project, This Must Be A PawPaw EP (2023). His music has resonated across screens, featured in popular shows like Netflix’s “Outer Banks,” Apple’s “Platonic,” and HBO’s “Insecure,” among others, as well as commercials for Apple and Nike. The rising star completed his debut headlining US tour in January 2024, and will support Still Woozy’s North American Tour this Fall. He is confirmed for this year’s Lollapalooza, Lightning in a Bottle, and Austin City Limits, and recently played Coachella w/ NEIL FRANCES, where they performed their groove-inducing record “High Notes.”

Topaz Jones

Topaz Jones is a rapper, producer, and filmmaker from Montclair, NJ. Rooted in an independent ethic, Topaz’s work moves to document and preserve the intimacy and intricacies of Black life. His music builds from a deep investment in community, concerning itself with all measures of time at once; his vantage effortlessly weaves through the (sur)real with generous detail and the sensitivity of one who’s lived many times before. It’s hip-hop for now, as informed by the depths of tradition – funk, soul, jazz – and a grand imagination for what’s to come. To experience Topaz Jones is to be greeted with unseen flavors of a collective familiar.

A performer both decorated and versatile, Topaz is a trailblazer across medium and genre. He shapeshifts with ease, rendering no stage or space unfit for his presence. He’s shared stages with Future, David Bryne, The Roots, and Moses Sumney, and been featured at Bonnaroo, Wireless Festival, and Rolling Loud. Topaz’s music has amassed over 50 million streams, earning features in the likes of Vogue, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Pitchfork, The FADER, and Okayplayer. In 2021, Jones released his critically-acclaimed second album Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Momma. The album’s accompanying short film, a collaboration with directorial duo rubberband., received a Short Film Jury Award at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, and was acquired by The New York Times Op-Docs.